Resetting means for counter assembly



Aug. 5, 1958 VAN VEEN 2,846,145

RESEITTING MEANS FOR COUNTER ASSEMBLY Filed March 2, 1954 I I I I 5 I I I a F I I I I I I I i I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 4 I I I I I I I F I I I I.

FIG 4 INVENTOR ANTON VANVEEN W 1/ ATTORNEY United States Patent RESETTIN G MEANS FOR COUNTER ASSEMBLY Anton Van Veen, Canton Centre, Conn.

Application March 2, 1954, Serial No. 413,556

2 Claims. (Cl. 235-144) This invention relates to hand counters and particu larly to an assembly of similar counter units mounted together on a suitable supporting frame and having means for simultaneously resetting their digit wheels to their Zero or other positions.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a member such as a bar passing axially through the central portion of the digit wheels of each counter unit so that rotation of this member will successively pick up the various digit wheels of the units so that they may all be rotated to their zero indicating positions.

A feature of importance of the invention is that the supporting member for the digit wheels of each unit is in the form of a short sleeve or hollow shaft, there being a separate hollow shaft or sleeve for each set of digit Wheels in a unit.

Another feature that is important is that the hollow shaft or sleeve for each unit is provided with a transversely extending member portions of which enter the space within the sleeve to form a non-circular cross section within the sleeve, so that with the units grouped in alignment on their supporting frame a bar or rod may be passed through the individual sleeves of the units and by engagement with the surfaces of the non-circular members all of the sleeves of the group of units may be simultaneously rotated.

This application forms a continuation in part of my previously granted Patents 2,726,040 granted December 6, 1955, and 2,762,567 granted September 11, 1956.

With the above and other objects and features in view, the invention may include the features of construction and operation set forth in the following speci fication and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing annexed hereto and forming a part of this specification, I have shown the invention embodied in a group of hand counters of the type shown in my Patent No. 2,572,784 granted October 23, 1951, but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawing is not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended to this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a group of counter units made according to the above referred to patent and mounted in alignment in a suitable supporting frame, one of the units being removed and an adjacent one having a part shown in dotted outline to more clearly show part of the resetting device forming the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View taken through one of the counter units, the wheel actuating member being in its upper or initial operative position;

Fig. 3 is a' view similar to Fig. 2 showing the actuating member for the wheels at the lower limit of its operative movement;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the wheel 2,846,145 Patented Aug. 5, 1958 supporting sleeve and showing one form of transverse member having portions extending within the sleeve opening and engaged by the resetting rod, and

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 showing another form of member having portions extending within the sleeve and engaged by the resetting rod.

In the above mentioned drawing, there have been shown two forms of the invention which are now deemed preferable, but it is to be understood that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Briefly and in its preferred form, the invention may include the following principal parts: First, a group of counter units each having a hollow shaft or sleeve on which the digit Wheels for the unit are mounted; second, a frame for supporting the units in alignment with each other; third, transverse members engaging openings in the sleeves for each unit so that portions of the members extend within the space within thhe sleeves, these members serving to retain the sleeves against removal from their units and retain the wheels and sleeves in the units; fourth, a bar or other form of member having a non-circular cross section passing through the sleeves of each unit of the group and engaged by the transverse members; fifth, supporting means for the opposite ends of the bar or other form of member in the supporting frame for the units, and sixth, an operating handle on said member at one end.

Referring more in detail to the figures of the drawing, it will be seen that a group of individual counter units 10 are mounted in alignment with each other and supported in fixed position within a suitable frame 11. The group of units in the frame as shown in Fig. l are four in number but any number may be used. In this group the unit 14 located at one end of the frame 11 is a totalizer unit and is actuated when any of the units 10 is actuated. This totalizer unit, however, may be placed anywhere in the group. For this purpose a rod 13 is attached to the unit 14 and extends beneath the operating members or covers 15 of the units 10. As the operation of the totalizer is similar to what is shown and described in one of the above mentioned applications, further description is not thought to be necessary. Each of the units 10 and 14 is or may be similar to those described in my above-mentioned patent.

Within a box-like case of each unit 10 are supported a series of closely adjacent digit wheels 16, the supporting member therefor being in the form of a short hollow shaft or sleeve 18. The sleeves 18 at their opposite ends are supported for rotation on their axes within suitable openings provided in the side wall surfaces of the case. To retain the sleeves 18 against axial movement to prevent removal from the units, slots 20 or openings 22 are provided adjacent one of their ends and members 24 or 26 such as shown in Figs. 4 or 5 are placed therein. These members 24 or 26 are positioned just inside one of the side walls of the case and therefore retain the sleeve against axial movement and also retain the wheels in position adjacent each other on the sleeves. But one member 24 or 26 is required for each unit.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the members 24 and 26 have portions extending within the space within the sleeves 18. Also, these members are non-rotatably mounted on the sleeves 18 but will rotate with rotative movements of the sleeves. In Fig. 4 the member 26 on the sleeve 18 is in the form of a wire staple each arm of the staple passing through parallel holes 22 in the sleeve 18. In Fig. 5 the member 24 is in the form of a C-shaped washer, a portion of the periphery of which has been cut away to provide arms passing through parallel slots 29 provided in the sleeve 18. As the sheet metal of which the washer 24 is made is thin, there will be a slight resiliency to the arms. Also the ends of the arms may have slightly indented portions 28. The washer when snapped in place therefore will be held resiliently against removal.

Extending centrally through the sleeves 18 of the aligned units 10 is a bar or rod 30 of non-circular crosssection. This bar or other member 30 is supported at its opposite ends in suitable bearings provided in the end pieces 12 of the frame 11. The cross sectional form and dimensions of the bar are such that the bar 30 will pass freely through the sleeves 18 and between the inner parallel surfaces of the transverse members 24 or 26 on the sleeves 18. Rotation therefore of the bar or rod 30 will rotate the transverse members 24 or 26 and the sleeves 18 of each unit counter. Rotation of the sleeves 18 will enable the units 10 to have their digit wheels 16 reset to zero as described in the above-mentioned patent. On the outside of the end pieces 12 a small handle is provided for rotating the bar or rod 30.

I claim as my invention:

1. A group of hand counters mounted in alignment in a supporting frame, digit wheels in each of said counters, a sleeve in each counter on which the digit wheels of the counter are mounted, a transverse member mounted on each sleeve and having portions entering the space within its sleeve, and a rod passing through the 1 mounted, a transverse member mounted on each sleeve adjacent an end thereof and within the casing of the counter, said members having portions extending within the space within the sleeve and being non-rotatably mounted thereon, and a rod of non-circular cross-section passing through the sleeves of the group of counters and engaging surfaces of said transverse members within said sleeves whereby rotation of said rod in one direction will simultaneously rotate said sleeves and digit wheels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 248,130 Beranek Oct. 11, 1881 1,311,173 Mann July 29, 1919 1,880,427 Ford Oct. 4, 1932 2,572,784 Van Veen Oct. 23, 1951 2,726,040 Van Veen Dec. 6, 1955 2,762,567 Van Veen Sept. 11, 1956 

